dossal

or dos·sel

[ dos-uhl ]

noun

1. Also an ornamental hanging placed at the back of an altar or at the sides of the chancel.
2. Archaic. dosser ¹( def 2 ).

dossal

/ ˈdɒsəl /

noun

1. an ornamental hanging, placed at the back of an altar or at the sides of a chancel

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossal¹

1650–60; < Medieval Latin dossale, for Latin dorsale, neuter of dorsālis, equivalent to dors ( um ) back + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dossal¹

C17: from Medieval Latin dossāle, neuter of dossālis, variant of dorsālis dorsal

Example Sentences

The beautiful dossal, or ornamented cloth suspended behind an altar.

From The Guardian

The dossal is used where there is no reredos and usually is of the Church color for the Festival or Season.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes a painting takes its place, or a dossal—a decorated curtain of as rich material as circumstances will allow.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaning heavily upon the lady, at the end he won to her maiden's chamber, where there was a fair bed covered with a rich dossal of broidered silk, edged with fur.

From Project Gutenberg

I called in many a craftsmaster    To fix emblazoned glass, To figure Cross and Sepulchre    On dossal, boss, and brass.

From Project Gutenberg